Distributing machine



March 11, 1941. G. R. HARRINGTON DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, `1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS G. R. HARRINGTON DISTRIBUTING MACHINE March 11, 1941.

Filed Aug. s, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Uff/'f7 /0/7- Qbf l f f ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

e/ e BY@ Patented Mar. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTING MACHINE George R. Harrington, Kalamazoo, 'Mich., assignor to Blood Brothers Machine Company, Allegan,

Mich.

ApplicationAugust 8, 1938, :Serial N0. v223,670

3 Claims.

The main vobjects of this' invention are: First, to provide a distributing machine Which is well adapted for the distributing of road materials to highways and streets, such for exam- '5 ple as sand, gravel, materials for laying dust, or

other surfacing materials.

Second, to provide `such a machine which is very simple and economical in structure yand at the same time is highly eicient.

Third, to provide a distributing machine of the class described which is capable of ready adjustment to determine Vthe amount of material discharged and also the area covered thereby.

Further'objects pertaining to details and econorn'ies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my improved distributing machine partially in central longitudinal section with parts broken away to facilitate illustration, certain o-f the parts being shown conventionally for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View partially in transverse section on line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated I provide a main or carriage frame designated generally by the numeral I and comprising rectangular top and bottom frame members 2 and 3, respectively, connected by the uprights 4 disposed at the corners of the bottom frame member. In the embodiment illustrated these parts are formed of structural steel. I have not 40, illustrated the method of securing the parts entering into the frame together as this may be by spotwelding, riveting or other means to secure a strong and rigid structure, one object in view being lightness as well as rigidity.

'Ihe frame memberl 2 projects forwardly beyond the frame member 3 and is provided with the combined hangers and draft members 5 which project upwardly from the front corners of the frame member 2 and are designed to be coupled to the rear end of a truck for carrying the material to be distributed and for propelling the distributing machine. It will be noted that the machine is provided with a single carrying wheel B, the hub 1 of which is mounted on the axle 8. The axle is carried by one o-f the 'side members of the bottom 'frame 3 and the longitudinal bar '9 mounted thereon, see Fig. 2. Bearings ID of the roller type are conventionally illustrate-d. The wheel is provided with a resilient tire II also conventionally illustrated except that itis shown as provided with beveled sidefaces I2. Y

A spindle I'3'is mounted in a suitable bracket I4 carried by the b-ar 9 and positioned to support the spindle I3 in a central upright position relative to 'the bottom member 3. It will be observed that -the spindle is supported in the vertical plane of the axle `B. The beveled friction gear SI5 is carried by the tubular shaft or 'hub 'I6 rotatably mounted on the spindle, suitable bearings I1 and I8 being provided therefor, and also an end thrust supporting bearing or plate I9. This shaft I6 is provided with an annular flange 20 to which the disk-like impeller 2I is secured, the impeller being provided with radial blades 22 on its upper surface. The material is discharged from the hopper 23 upon the impeller.

In the embodiment illustrated the hopper is mounted on a supporting plate 24 mounted on the top frame member 2 and extending from side to side thereof as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This supporting plate is provided with an opening through which the sleeve-like hub or tubular shaft I6 projects so that the upper end of the hub is Within the hopper. The hopper is preferably downwardly tapered as illustrated and is provided with a bottom 25 having a segmental discharge opening 26 therein.

Between the hopper bottom and the supporting plate is a valve plate 2l having a segmental opening 28 therein adapted to be brought into register with the opening 26 in the hopper bottom. The hopper bottom has segmental slots 23 while the valve plate has corresponding segmental slots 30 adapted to receive the securing bolts 3| so that by rotatively adjusting the valve plate and the hopper relative to each other the size of the discharge opening may be varied. Also, by this rotative adjustment the point of discharge of the material to be distributed upon the impeller may be regulated.

The agitator 32 has blades 33 and 34 vertically offset relative to each other, the blade 33 rotating in a plane adjacent the bottom of the hopper While the blade 34 rotates in a plane elevated substantially above the plane of the blade 33.

In distributing road surfacing materials such as sand, gravel or crushed stone, they are commonlyA mixed with calcium chloride for the purtributed Which is shovel-ed into the hopper. `By f the rotative adjustment of the discharge ofthe hopper the point of discharge upon' the'road- Way may be quite effectively controlled as 'it will be understood that the-material s= discharged from the impeller in relation to the vpoint at which it is discharged to the impel1er. Of course, the element of speed, the character` of the material, whether it is moist or dry, and

other conditions are factors but the apparatus can be adjusted to meet all of these conditions.

vThe direct drive fromY the carrying wheel minimizes the moving parts and bearings, which is a highly desirable feature both in the matter of economy of manufacture and upkeep. `The importance will be obvious when the character ofthe Work done by the machine istakendnto consideration. y l

I have illustrated and described my invention in aghighly practical embodiment thereof. I have noty attempted to illustrate or describecertain modifications or adaptations which I contempl-ate as it is believed this .disclosure will enable those skilled in the art t vembody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a distributing machine, the combination of a frame, a vertical driven shaft on the frame, a disk-like impeller mounted on said shaft, a hopper supporting plate mounted on said frame and having anopening thereinrthrough which said shaft projects, a hopper vrotatably adjustable on said plate and provided with a bottom having a discharge opening therein, and a valve plate disposed between the bottom of the hopper andl saidv hopper supporting plate having an opening therein adapted to be brought into register with said opening in said hopper bottom.

2. In a distributing machine, the combination of a frame, a vertical driven shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, a disk-like impeller mounted on said'shaft, a hopper on the frame provided with a bottom having a discharge opening therein, a valve plate on the frame having an opening thereinV adapted to 4be brought into yregister with said opening/in said hopper bottom; Vand means for eifecting rotative adjustment of thegvalve plate and hopper for varying the discharge opening of the hopper and the position of discharge to the impeller.

3. In a distributing machine of the type described, a frame,*a`hopper rotatably mounted on the frame, and -a valve plate rotatably rmounted on the frame, sai-d hopper and valve plate having openings therein adjustable'relative to the frame and to one another by rotation of the hopper and valve plate to control theamount and positioning of the discharge from the hopper.

' GEORGE R. HARRINGTON. 

